Handle-controlled spray

ABSTRACT

A handle-controlled spray is provided for bathroom use with faucets or as a shower, wherein controlled flow therefrom is initiated by squeeze-type pressure. The handle-controlled spray has a safety flow valve that is self-closing with the pressure and a drip-preventing head.

ll mted States Patent 1151 3,637,143

Shames et al. 1 Jan. 25, 1972 1 ANDLE-CONTROLLED SPRAY 3,042,312 7/1962Packard ..239/586 x [72} Inventors: Harold Shames, Ardsley; Sidney J.3l0786l 0/1963 pe-nkoffw "239/577 Shams B M b th f N 3,207,443 9/1965Gilmour... ..239/586 x J h J 3,445,069 5/1969 Druge ..239/586X 3,461,8708/l969 Van Linge ..239/310x [73] Assignee: Melard Manufacturing Corp.,Bronx, NY. 2,104,468 V1938 by said Logan 2,873,941 2/1959 Kortchmar...

2,97 4 1 1. ..239 31871 221 Filed: May 28,1969 5 80 3/1961 e a I APPLNOJ830,216 FOREIGN PATENTSORAPPLICATIONS 886,398 8 1953 Germany ..239 530[52] Usfi "Hg/283339530,239/535 656,723 10 1963 Italy ..239/588 239/577239/588 Primary ExaminerM. Henson Wood, Jr. 51 11m. 01 ..B05b 15/06 A EJ h J L [58] 11 16111 ofSearch ..239/282,285,530, 534,570, g 3.

529, 460, 318; 251/245, 303, 240 [57] ABSTRACT References Cited Ahandle-controlled spray is provided for bathroom use with faucets or asa shower, wherein controlled flow therefrom is UNITED STATES PATENTSinitiated by squeeze-type pressure. The handle-controlled 2,789,0134/1957 Bletcher et al ..239 570 x Spray has a Safety flow valve that isself-Closing Wiih the P 2,957,705 10/1960 Herbenar ..251/303 x Weandadrip-preveming head- 2,984,452 5/1961 Hooper ..251/303 x 4 Claims,13 Drawing Figures PATENTED JANZS I972 SEEM l ow mm INVENTORS Y w mm MRAAG 0 HHO 55L T M5 M 1 m PATENIEUJANBSIQYZ 31637143 I NVENTURS HA R'OLDSHAMES,

s/a/vey u. SHAMES BY dOHN LOGAN ATTORNEYS HANDLE-CONTROLLED SPRAYSUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Handle-controlled sprays have been usedheretofore in kitchens and bathrooms. Prior constructions have lackedappeal for use in bathrooms or as shower units either because of lack ofa convenient control, inflexibility of adaptability to existing systems,tendency to leak from the spray head, or lack of simplicity, ease orreliability wherein control was attempted.

It is the purpose of this invention to provide a handle-controlled spraythat avoids the aforesaid problems and which provides spray flowtherefrom upon exercise of simple and convenient squeeze-type pressure.

Another object of this invention is to provide a handlecontrolled spraythat is characterized by simplicity and inexpensiveness of construction,and by efficiency of operation.

A further object of this invention is to provide the combination of ahandle-controlled spray with diverter valve and support accessorieswhich facilitate the use of such a spray in shower-type facilities.

Further objects and advantages of this invention will become apparent asthe following description proceeds and the features of novelty whichcharacterize this invention will be pointed out with particularity inthe claims annexed to and forming part of this specification.

A preferred embodiment of the invention is shown in the accompanyingdrawing.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIG. 1 is a fragmentary perspectiveview showing usage of the handle-controlled spray in a shower-typeinstallation;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged elevational view of the handle-com trolled spraytaken looking at the spray face of the device;

FIG. 3 is an axial cross-sectional view of the spray device taken online 3-3 of FIG. 2 and showing the control valve closed;

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary view similar to a portion of FIG. 3 but showingthe control valve fully open;

FIG. 4a is similar to FIG. 4 but greatly enlarged;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged perspective view of the diverter valve shownlocated in the circle numbered 5 in the installation of FIG. 1;

FIG. 6 is an axially cross-sectional view taken on line 66 of FIG. 5showing the valve at one of its two alternate posi-. tions, namely theone for directing flow to the spray of FIGS. 1-4;

FIG. 7 is a view similar to FIG. 6 but showing the valve in the other ofits two alternate positions, namely the one for directing flow to theshower head shown in FIG. 11;

FIG. 8 is an enlarged view of the spray holder shown located in thecircle numbered 8 in the installation of FIG. 1;

FIG. 9 is a front elevational view of the holder shown in FIG. 6;

FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view taken on line 10--l0 of FIG. 9;

FIG. Ill is a top plan view taken on line 11-41 of FIG. 9, and

FIG. 12 is a perspective view of an adjustable holder for the spraywhich is operable to keep the valve of the spray open without being heldand thus permits use of the spray as a shower.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Referring now to the drawings,FIG. 1 illustrates a spray 10 that is being supported in a nonuseposition by a wall-mounted bracket 12- whose details are more fullydisclosed in FIGS. 841. The spray I is supplied by a supply hose 14 of alength to permit desired operations and which connects at its upstreamend to a diverter valve 16 whose details are shown in FIGS. 57.

In the installation of FIG. 1, water is supplied from an elevatedwall-mounted type of conduit 20 to one end of the elongated divertervalve 16. A tubular stud 22 extends from the other end of diverter valve116 and supplies water to a shower head 24. The supply hose 14 connectsto the diverter valve 16 intermediate its ends through a tubular stud115 that extends transversely of the length of the valve 16. Thedownwstream end of hose 14 connects to the upstream end of spray Ill.The downstream end of spray 10 has a spray head 11 that is diametricallyenlarged relative to the adjacent neck Illa of spray It), and which head11 engages and is supported by spaced support fingers of a wall-mountedspray-support bracket 12.

Referring now to the spray whose features are shown in FIGS. 2-4, thesupply hose 14 is shown as being provided at its downstream end with anelongated tubular stud or shank 30 having on the outer periphery thereofa series of annular downstream facing barbs 32. The downstream end ofhose 14 is clamped between the barbed portion of tubular stud and aferrule 34 in a manner well known in the art. An axially elongated nut36 with a radially reduced portion 38 is arranged to be rotatablymounted on the shank 30. The upstream end of nut 36 has an enlarged boreportion 40 that operates to shield ferrule 34. The downstream end of thenut 36 is provided with a recess 42 which receives or fits over a.snapring 44 held in a groove 46 defined on the tubular stud 3th. The nutis provided with exterior threads 48. The downstream end of stud 36 hasa reduced portion 50 to provide an upstream shoulder 52, and a sealingwasher 54 is positioned on reduced portion 50 against shoulder 52. Theterminal end of stud 30 is flared at 56 for retaining the sealing washer54 in position.

The nut 36 connects to a valve-mounting insert generally indicated at 60which is provided with an upstream annular portion 62 having threads 64for cooperation with threads 48 on the nut. A frustoconical sealingsurface 66 is provided facing generally upstream and against which thesealing washer 54 abuts. The insert 60 is provided with an outer annularabutment shoulder 68 and a downstream annular portion 70 having definedtherein an annular recess 72 into which is fitted an O-ring 74 forpurposes of sealing. The downstream portion 70 has attachment thread 76thereon for connection to the upstream end of the spray. The insert 66thus defines a flow chamber 78 that is bounded at its downstream end byan annular web 80 having an upstream facing valve seat 82 definedthereon with a central flow passageway 83 therethrough. Downstream ofthe web 80 there is an annular axially extending flange 84 thatsurrounds the annular spring seat 86. The valve-mounting insert 60carries a valve member 88 having a cup-shaped valve head 90 with aplurality of outwardly extending spaced ribs 91 which limit the head 90from engaging the inner wall of the insert 60. The valve head 90 has aninternally threaded central boss 92 and head 90 carries an annular valveseal 94. An elongated assembly stem 96 is threaded in boss 92 andextends through flow passageway 83 into the interior of the spraymember. The assembly stem 96 carries a seal-retaining flange 100 ofsmaller dimension than the flow passageway 83. A downstream portion ofstem 96 has a cylindrical enlargement 102 that is grooved. to receiveand retain snapring 104. A helical spring 136 of frustoconical shape ispositioned between the snapring I04 and the spring seat 86, with thelargest loop 108 engaging seat 86 and the retainer flange 34, and thesmallest loop 116 being centered on en- Iargement 1102 and engagingsnapring 104. Downstream of the snapring 104 the stem has a cylindricalengagement stud 112 that terminates in a conical tip 114.

The hollow spray body 1116 is formed of plastic and has an upstream endinternally threaded at 116. The downstream end of the spray body 116 isshaped to define a circular spray head 11. Spray head 11 has a centraltubular threaded boss 120. There is also provided an annular cylindricalsealing surface 122. The sprayforming cylindrical surface 124 isprovided downstream of sealing surface 122. A plurality of spacing ribs126 extending generally radially of boss I20 extend inwardly of the wallof the spray. A sprayforrning faceplate 128 is mounted by means of boltH30 having a head 132 that sealingly engages the underside of transversewall I34 of plate 128. Plate 128 has a cylindrical wall 136 and asealing surface 138. The upstream side of plate 128 has a circular rib140 and the plurality of spray bores 142 are provided through the plate128. There are many more peripheral grooves 144 in wall 136 whichcooperate with wall 124 in order to provide a circularly arranged seriesof outer spray openings. A molded seal member 146 of rubber or similarmaterial and provided with a groove 148 for mounting on rib 140 isprovided. The seal member 146 carries outwardly biased sealing lips 150and 152 which respectively are adapted to engage sealing surfaces 122and 138 in order to cut off drip of water after the flow of pressurizedwater has ceased. When the pressure of water is higher than the bias ofthe sealing lips, then the water is forced through the spray aperturesto provide a series of concentric spray streams issuing from the sprayhead.

Provided on the handle at an attitude facing in the direction of thespray face 11, there is provided a handle recess generally indicated at154 which is elongated axially of the spray body 116. The handle recess154 is bounded by spaced longitudinal flanges 156 and by an upstreamtransverse flange 158 and a downstream transverse flange 160. Within therecess 154 there is a tubular stud 162 that is closer to the upstreamflange 158. A headed plunger 164 is provided for movement through thetubular stud 162. The plunger 164 has a shank 166 that is grooved toreceive an O-ring 168 that sealingly cooperates with the inner wall oftubular stud 162. The extended tip of plunger 164 is threaded at 170 tocooperate with the guide block 172 shaped at its innermost end toprovide a saddle recess 174 for receiving thereinto the extended end of112 of the assembly stem 96. A spring 174 is slip-fit over tubular stud162 and is of a length to engage the head 178 of the plunger 164. Asqueeze control 180 is formed of sheet metal and shaped to providespaced longitudinal flanges 182 that lie closely adjacent and inwardlyof longitudinal flanges 156 of the handle recess 154. A pivot pin 184extends through the longitudinal flanges 156 and the longitudinalflanges 182 to provide for pivoting of the squeeze control 180 about theaxis of pivot pin 184. An abutment flange 186 at the upstream end of thesqueeze control is provided for limiting pivoting of the squeeze controlto the position seen in FIG. 3.

From what has been described, the operation of the device should bereadily understandable. By squeezing the control 180 inwardly, theplunger 164 is depressed tipping the valve stem 96 and its attachedvalve member 88, and the flow of water then passes through the sprayhandle for discharge from the nozzles defined at the downstream end ofthe spray. Because of the shape and arrangement of the control 180, onlysqueeze pressure of the hand is required, as contrasted to finger orthumb pressure required by other controls. It has been found that suchan arrangement is less fatiguing for a person using the spray. The flowof water and pressure therefrom depresses the sealing lips 150 and 152and a full spray is achieved. Upon release of the squeeze control, thespring 176 and the pressure on the upstream side of the valve member 88operates to cut off flow because the valve member 88 closes with thepressure of the incoming liquid and the tipping valve is restored fromthe flow position of FIG. 4 to the nonflow position as seen in FIG. 3.With flow cut off, the resilience of lips 150 and 152 restores them totheir normal sealing position so that there is no drip from the sprayhead. Thus the spray provides for precision control thereof.

Referring now to the diverter valve 16 whose details are illustrated inFIGS. -7, said diverter valve 16 has an elongated body 200 with a femalethreaded recess 202 at its upstream end for connection to conduit 20.The opposite end of body 200 carries a tubular stud 204 threaded forconnection to stud 22. A transverse cylindrical bore 206 extends throughthe body 200. A controller 208 is positioned in the transverse bore 206.The valve body defines an entry passageway 210 and there is a firstoutlet passageway 212 which leads to stud 204 and a second outletpassageway 214 which leads to a transverse study 216 which is adaptedfor connection to the upstream end of supply hose 14.

Controller 208 is of the shuttle type, whose terminal positionsestablish the selected operations, and has two spaced large diametershaft portions 218a and 218k which are bounded at their respective outerends by flanges 220a and 220b. The inner ends of shaft portions 218 eachhave a groove 222 for an O-ring seal 224. Between shaft portions 218extends a reduced shaft 226 with an enlarged grooved portion 218acentrally thereof carrying an O-ring seal 224. The annular spacessurrounding each section of reduced shaft 226 and positioned betweenspaced shaft portions provide transfer flow chambers 228.

When the controller is in the FIG. 6 position, flow from conduit 20enters chamber 228a and is directed solely to outlet passageway 214which supplies water to the spray 10. When the controller is in the FIG.7 position, flow passes to chamber 228b and through both passageway 214and 212 to supply both the spray l0 and the shower head 24. Abutment offlanges 220a or 22% against the sides of body 200 operates to properlylocate shaft portion 218c to direct the liquid flow as desired.

The support bracket 12 of FIGS. 8-11 includes an upright plate 240formed with a rearwardly extending, wall-engaging peripheral flange 242and mounting apertures 244 for receiving countersunk wall-mountingscrews. Extending forwardly of plate 240 are spaced fingers 246 havingupwardly extending retainer tips 248. The shape of plate 240 and theadjacent ends of fingers 246 cooperate to define an arcuate saddle, orrecess, 250 between the fingers for accommodating the rounded handleportion of spray 10 when the spray head 11 is seated on fingers 246between plate 240 and retainer tips 248 as seen in FIG. 1.

In the shower attachment shown in FIG. 12, there is a support bracket260 for wall mounting with an outwardly extending flange 262. Anadjustable spray-holder 264 is shown including a flange 266 arranged infacing relation to flange 262 and arranged for pivoting about the axisof shouldered stem 268 of a finger-actuated, friction-type retainerwhose head is indicated at 270. The remainder of spray-holder 264includes a sleeve 272 with an open lateral segment 274, and an innerperiphery that defines an enlarged upper recess 276 and a lower smallerrecess 278. The open lateral segment is large enough to pass supply hose14 therethrough. The upper recess 276 will receive the spray handle 116and the control when the latter is in the valve-open flow position ofFIG. 4, and the lower recess 278 will receive therein the portion ofhandle 116 upstream of transverse flange 158. Thus, when the spray 10 isin position on holder 264, the control 180 is maintained depressed and ashowerlike spray emanates from head 11, with adjustable holder 264directing the attitude of the spray.

While there has been shown and described a particular embodiment of thisinvention, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that variouschanges and modifications may be made therein without department fromthe invention and, therefore, it is intended in the appended claims tocover all such changes and modifications as fall within the true spiritand scope of the invention.

What we claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of theUnited States is:

1. A handle-controlled spray comprising, in combination: an elongatedtubular handle, spray-discharge means adjacent one end of said tubularhandle, means adjacent the other end of said tubular handle defining anannular upstream-facing, valve seat in general longitudinal alignmentwith the longitudinal axisof the tubular handle, means for introducingwater under pressure into the handle past said valve seat, a valve onsaid valve seat arranged to normally seat with the said pressure of thewater, an elongated control lever carried on the outside of the tubularhandle in a region downstream of said valve seat and normally extendingat a relatively slight divergence from the handle in the direction goingupstream, so as to provide a squeeze-type control, valve-opening meansoperatively associated between said control lever and valve downstreamof the valve seat for effecting selective tipping-type opening of thevalve to provide for selective discharge of spray from saidspray-discharge means, and the spray-discharge means including at leastone circular series of spray apertures, each series of spray apertureshaving an adjacent circular wall upstream of the spray apertures, and acircular sealing member with a resilient annular deflectable flangenormally biased against said circular wall to normally shutoff flow fromthe associate series of apertures when the liquid in the tubular handleis not under pressure.

2. A device as in claim 1 wherein the circular series of apertures arearranged in two concentric circles, and a single circular sealing memberis provided with two annular deflectable flanges for effecting saidshutoff of flow.

3. A handle-controlled spray comprising, in combination: an elongatedtubular handle, spray-discharge means adjacent one end of said tubularhandle, means adjacent the other end of said tubular handle defining anannular upstream-facing, valve seat in general longitudinal alignmentwith the longitudinal axis of the tubular handle, means for introducingwater under pressure into the handle past said valve seat, a valve onsaid valve seat arranged to normally seat with the said pressure of thewater, an elongated control lever carried on the outside of the tubularhandle in a region downstream of said valve seat and normally extendingat a relatively slight divergence from the handle in the direction goingupstream, so as to provide a squeeze-type control, valve-opening meansoperatively associated between said control lever and valve downstreamof the valve seat for effecting selective tipping-type opening of thevalve to provide for selective discharge of spray from saidspray-discharge means, said means for introducing water under pressureinto the handle including an axially elongated annular body havingadjacent its downstream end the valve seat inwardly thereof andattachment means outwardly thereof for screw connection to the tubularhandle, and having adjacent its upstream end an inside screw connectionadapted for receiving a pressure coupling nut, and an internal sealingseat between said ends adapted to receive a sealing member biasedthereagainst by such a pressure coupling nut.

4. A handle-controlled spray comprising, in combination: an elongatedtubular handle, spray-discharge means adjacent one end of said tubularhandle, means adjacent the other end of said tubular handle defining anannular upstream-facing, valve seat in general longitudinal alignmentwith the longitudinal axis of the tubular handle, means for introducingwater under pressure into the handle past said valve seat, a valve onsaid valve seat arranged to normally seat. with the said pressure of thewater, an elongated control lever carried on the outside of the tubularhandle in a region downstream of said valve seat and normally extendingat a relatively slight divergence from the handle in the direction goingupstream, so as to provide a squeeze-type control, valve-opening meansoperatively associated between said control lever and valve downstreamof the valve seat for effecting selective tipping-type opening of thevalve to provide for selective discharge of spray from saidspray-discharge means, and a mounting bracket means shaped to provide asocket which receives and holds the tubular handle and control levertherefor at an attitude wherein the valve is open, and adjustment meanson said mounting bracket for selectively varying the attitude of thespray from the spray discharging means.

1. A handle-controlled spray comprising, in combination: an elongatedtubular handle, spray-discharge means adjacent one end of said tubularhandle, means adjacent the other end of said tubular handle defining anannular upstream-facing, valve seat in general longitudinal alignmentwith the longitudinal axis of the tubular handle, means for introducingwater under pressure into the handle past said valve seat, a valve onsaid valve seat arranged to normally seat with the said pressure of thewater, an elongated control lever carried on the outside of the tubularhandle in a region downstream of said valve seat and normally extendingat a relatively slight divergence from the handle in the direction goingupstream, so as to provide a squeeze-type control, valve-opening meansoperatively associated between said control lever and valve downstreamof the valve seat for effecting selective tipping-type opening of thevalve to provide for selective discharge of spray from saidspray-discharge means, and the spray-discharge means including at leastone circular series of spray apertures, each series of spray apertureshaving an adjacent circular wall upstream of the spray apertures, and acircular sealing member with a resilient annular deflectable flangenormally biased against said circular wall to normally shutoff flow fromthe associate series of apertures when the liquid in the tubular handleis not under pressure.
 2. A device as in claim 1 wherein the circularseries of apertures are arranged in two concentric circles, and a singlecircular sealing member is provided with two annular deflectable flangesfor effecting said shutoff of flow.
 3. A handle-controlled spraycomprising, in combination: an elongated tubular handle, spray-dischargemeans adjacent one end of said tubular handle, means adjacent the otherend of said tubular handle defining an annular upstream-facing, valveseat in general longitudinal alignment with the longitudinal axis of thetubular handle, means for introducing water under pressure into thehandle past said valve seat, a valve on said valve seat arranged tonormally seat with the said pressure of the water, an elongated controllever carried on the outside of the tubular handle in a regiondownstream of said valve seat and normally extending at a relativelyslight divergence from the handle in the direction going upstream, so asto provide a squeeze-type control, valve-opening means operativelyassociated between said control lever and valve downstream of the valveseat for effecting selective tipping-type opening of the valve toprovide for selective discharge of spray from said spray-dischargemeans, said means for introducing water under pressure into the handleincluding an axially elongated annular body having adjacent itsdownstream end the valve seat inwardly thereof and attachment meansoutwardly thereof for screw connection to the tubular handle, and havingadjacent its upstream end an inside screw connection adapted forreceiving a pressure coupling nUt, and an internal sealing seat betweensaid ends adapted to receive a sealing member biased thereagainst bysuch a pressure coupling nut.
 4. A handle-controlled spray comprising,in combination: an elongated tubular handle, spray-discharge meansadjacent one end of said tubular handle, means adjacent the other end ofsaid tubular handle defining an annular upstream-facing, valve seat ingeneral longitudinal alignment with the longitudinal axis of the tubularhandle, means for introducing water under pressure into the handle pastsaid valve seat, a valve on said valve seat arranged to normally seatwith the said pressure of the water, an elongated control lever carriedon the outside of the tubular handle in a region downstream of saidvalve seat and normally extending at a relatively slight divergence fromthe handle in the direction going upstream, so as to provide asqueeze-type control, valve-opening means operatively associated betweensaid control lever and valve downstream of the valve seat for effectingselective tipping-type opening of the valve to provide for selectivedischarge of spray from said spray-discharge means, and a mountingbracket means shaped to provide a socket which receives and holds thetubular handle and control lever therefor at an attitude wherein thevalve is open, and adjustment means on said mounting bracket forselectively varying the attitude of the spray from the spray-dischargingmeans.